Het Scheepvaartmuseum

What's On

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May

Vincent Ruijters - Crimson Gilt

An installation of more than a thousand knitted strips in gold and crimson conjures the ghost of the East Indiaman Amsterdam: gold for trade and prosperity, red for colonialism and exploitation.

Now showing18 Sept – 21 Mar 2027€20

Atlantic Window IV: Sedrig Verwoert

Choreographer Sedrig Verwoert traces dance in the diaspora, pairing a travelogue of his research into Winti, Kawina and Tambu in Suriname and Curacao with the dance film Strange Fruit 2.0.

Now showing9 Oct – 4 Apr 2027€20

Stephan Vanfleteren - Transcripts of a Sea

Five years of photographing the coastline from northern France to the southern Netherlands: Vanfleteren's sea shifts room by room from glassy calm through misty drift to storm.

Now showing10 Oct – 4 Apr 2027€20

The Solebay Tapestries

Two monumental royally commissioned tapestries designed by Willem van de Velde the Elder, woven at Mortlake and showing the 1672 Battle of Solebay. The largest acquisition in the museum's history.

UpcomingFrom 12 Dec€20

Permanent Collections

Charting the Sea

Why map the sea, and how? A cartography gallery tracing the Dutch nautical chart alongside maritime atlases and survey instruments from the museum's collection.

Permanent collection€20

East Indiaman Amsterdam

A full-size replica of the 18th-century Dutch East India Company ship Amsterdam, moored beside the museum. Climb the decks, lie in the hammocks and visit the captain's cabin.

Permanent collection€20

Republic at Sea

The museum's main gallery: over fifty masterpieces telling how the Dutch Republic became a maritime power through trade and war in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Permanent collection€20

The Tale of the Whale

An interactive exhibition for children 6+ on whales and whaling, from hunted beast to endangered species. You enter through a bowhead whale's open mouth.

Permanent collection€20

Doris the Diver

A narrative, hands-on exhibition for children aged 2 and up: help Doris the Diver find the lost lighthouse lamp on a quest from sea to land.

Permanent collection€20

The Royal Barge

The gilded rowing barge King William I commissioned 200 years ago, shown with a presentation on the barge and its boathouse. Closed for maintenance until 10 November.

Permanent collection€20

The Navigational Instruments

Astrolabes, cross-staffs, octants and sextants under a starry sky in the east wing: how sailors found their way by sun, moon and stars until the 20th century.

Permanent collection€20

The Ship Decorations

Carved figureheads, rudderheads, mast shields and painted ornaments in the east wing, showing the symbolism and craftsmanship of decorated ships.

Permanent collection€20

Bringing Back the Ballast, by Nathan Coley

Nathan Coley's wall of 6,000 ballast bricks, gathered in 2011 from former VOC and WIC ports, gives shape to the weight of Dutch colonial history.

Permanent collection€20

Shadows on the Atlantic

Colonial history seen from both sea and shore: 17th- and 18th-century paintings and ship models set against contemporary art, video and personal stories about slavery's legacy.

Permanent collection€20

Nearby

i

NEMO Science Museum

Architecture4 min walk

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Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam (Dutch Resistance Museum)

Military5 min walk

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Joods Museum (Jewish Museum, Jewish Cultural Quarter)

Children11 min walk

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Rembrandt House Museum

Architecture11 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Het Scheepvaartmuseum cost?

Standard adult admission to Het Scheepvaartmuseum is €20. Children 5-17 and students EUR 8.50; under 5 free; free with Museumkaart, ICOM, I amsterdam City Card and Rembrandt Society.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.

What are the opening hours of Het Scheepvaartmuseum?

Het Scheepvaartmuseum is open Open daily 10:00-17:00. Closed 25 December, 1 January and King's Day (27 April). Library open Monday to Friday 10:00-17:00.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.

Where is Het Scheepvaartmuseum?

Het Scheepvaartmuseum is located at Kattenburgerplein 1, 1018 KK Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Oostelijke Eilanden area of Amsterdam. The nearest stations are Kadijksplein (tram 14, bus 22/48), Amsterdam Centraal station and Muiderpoort / IJtunnel bus stops.

What can I see at Het Scheepvaartmuseum?

Holland's seafaring saga in a 1656 naval storehouse, with a full-size VOC ship moored at the quay. Current highlights include Charting the Sea, East Indiaman Amsterdam and Vincent Ruijters - Crimson Gilt.

Do I need to book Het Scheepvaartmuseum in advance?

Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.

When is the best time to visit Het Scheepvaartmuseum?

Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.